Operator&#39;s cab for travelling cranes



May 21, 1963 R. D. MUTCH 3,090,495

OPERATORS CAB FOR TRAVELLING CRANES Filed Oct. 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N vsarra R lid/4am May 21, 1963 R. D. MUTCH 3,090,495

OPERATORS CAB FOR TRAVELLING CRANES Filed Oct. 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR I R0. MuTcH atent BfiQhAQS Patented May 21, 1963 3,090,495 OPERATORS CAB FOR TRAVELLING CRANES Robert Douglas Mutch, Baie dUrfe, Quebec, Canada,

assignor to Dominion Bridge Company, Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Oct. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 62,619 12 Claims. (Cl. 212-18) This invention relates to overhead cranes and particularly to the operators cab for such cranes where the cab is of unit construction and can be fitted into the crane structure in a. position which will afiord the operator a. maximum range of view of the load area under the crane under all operating conditions. The unit construction of the cab also affords the operator a safe passageway between the cab and the crane structure whereby the op erator is protected against falling from the crane and against accidental cont-act with the electrical power cables associated with the crane.

The invention consists essentially in the unit construction of the crane cab in which a vertically disposed tubular member forms the base. The tubular member has supported at its lower end the cab structure either in the form of an open platform surrounded by guard rails, or a closed or semi-closed cab. The tubular member is provided with means whereby its upper end can be secured to a crane structure in a position which will afford the operator a maximum view of the lifting hook of the crane in any of its operative positions. Access to the operators cab from the crane is by Way of the tubular member which is provided with an access opening at its top end adjacent the crane walk or platform and a walkin access opening at the level of the cab. Suitable rungs are disposed within the tubular member to permit the operator to climb through the tube between crane and cab so that the operator is fully protected from making con tact with the cranes electrical pick-up cables.

It has been common practice to build operators cabs directly into the crane structure below the main crane girders and to provide an open ladder suspended from the side of the crane girder down to the side of the cab or from an opening in the walkway to the floor of the cab and the operator was obliged to step off the girder or walkway on to the ladder, step down the ladder and then to step from the ladder into the operators cab and always exposed to the hazard of falling off the ladder or contacting the live power cables. Generally, the operators cab was built into the crane structure in a standard fixed position with no provision for changing its position on the crane about its vertical axis to suit the particular requirements of the user of the crane or of the type of work to be handled by the crane. In the present invention the prefabricated cab structure can be assembled into a crane structure in 'any desired location and to give the crane operator a range of view of the load and the area over which the load is to be transported.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a unit cab construction which can readily be assembled into a crane structure in any desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crane cab fabricated about a main tubular member with provision to attach the tubular member to a crane structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crane cab in which a main tubular member provides ready access from the crane to the cab.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crane cab which will provide the operator with maximum protection from contact with live power cables.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crane cab which will allow the operator to have a maximum area of view of the crane load in any position and of the area within which the crane is operated.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one end of a crane structure showing the operators cab mounted in place.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the crane structure showing the main tubular support and entrance way to the crane cab in relation to adjacent power cables.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the operators cab and showing in chain dot lines the crane elements on which the tubular member of the cab is supported.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the cab structure shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the top end of the cab structure.

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view on the line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of an exit door at the operators platform level installed when the cab is enclosed or partly enclosed.

Referring to the drawings, the operators cab generally indicated by the numeral 5 in FIGURES l and 2 is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 3 to 9 as a preferred form of the invention. It is to be understood that detailed features may be modified or their general location be changed to suit the installation of the cab in difierent forms of cranes and to suit individual working conditions.

The cab 5 is fabricated about the vertically disposed basic tubular member 6, through which entry to and exit from the cab is provided. The open top end of the tubular member 6 is generally located in the horizontal plane of the top of the main girders 7 of the crane and is of sufficient length as to provide ample head room for an operator between the bottom end of the tube 6 and the under side 3 of the main girders 7.

The upper end of the tubular member 6 has its surface cut out at 9 to provide a walk-in entrance to the tube. The depth of the cut out 9 is such that its lower end is substantially in line with the location of the crane walk or platform 10. The edge of the cut out is provided with a rounded beading 11 for the protection of the operator against the sharp edge of the cut out. A lower cut-out 12 in the surface of the tube 6 is of suflicient height to permit the operator to enter or leave the tube at the cab level while standing up. The vertical location of this lower cutout 12 is below the under side 8 of the main girders 7 of the crane. A rounded beading 13 is fitted around the cutout 12-for the protection of the operator.

A step platform 14 is provided at the lower end of the tube 6 and a series of horizontally disposed rungs 15 are provided to enable the operator to climb up or down the inside of the tube. These rungs 15 are disposed in a plane parallel with the plane of the cut-out 12. A vertically disposed hand grip 16 is fitted within the tube 6 directly opposite the upper cut-out 9. The radial location of the cut outs 9 and 12 on the surface of the tube 6 and with respect to each other will depend on the most convenient position to walk into the tube from the crane Walk or platform 10 and the desired position of the cab with respect to the crane on which it is fitted.

The cab consists of a platform 17 edged by a skirt plate 18 and is secured about a substantial part of the outer surface of the lower end of the tube 6, and facing the cut out 12 forming the walk-in entrance from the tube to the cab. Side rails 19 located outwardly and above the edge of the platform 17 have their ends 24} secured to the outer surface of the tube 6. The portion 21 of the surface of the tube opposite the cut-out 12 forms the back of the cab 7 fore mounted in a plane parallel with a plane centered in the cut-out 12 and passing through the axis of the tube 6 providing the operator with a line of sight indicated by the arrow A.

The cab 5 is generally secured to the crane structure when being assembled in its final location and is secured in place by means of the mounting ring 23 located on the tube 6 between the cut-outs 9 and 12. This mounting ring 23 is provided with-a series of bolt holes 24- by means of which the cab can be secured to the gusset plate 25 and the crane main girders 7, after the cab has been positioned about the axis of the tube 6 to bring the line of sight of the operator, indicated by the arrow A, into the desired position. A gusset plate 26 is secured between the top end of the tube 6 and the top surface of the girder 7. Additional means for securing the cab to the crane girders are provided by the reinforcing brackets 27 and 28 on the sides of the tube 6. These brackets 27 and 28 are secured to the crane girders 7 by means of the braces 29 and 30.

Where it is desired to have the cab enclosed or partly enclosed, an exit door 31 is fitted to the enclosing wall 32 of the cab as shown in FIG. 9, and a platform 33 is prov vided on to which the operator can step from the cab.

The cab structure above described can be fabricated as a separate unit for installation in cranes of various types. The tubular member provides a rigid one piece support to which the cab platform can be secured and which provides little or no obstruction to the view of the operator as the tube is located at the back of the operator. By providing means whereby the cab can be positioned about a vertical axis the operators line of sight can be directed towards the area under the crane where most crane operations will be performed, and no undue turning of the operators head will be necessary for him to observe the areas over which the crane with its load travels.

The tubular construction of the cab permits the operator to enter and depart from the cab through the tube in complete safety, as the tube gives maximum protection from the power cables 34 and the power pick-up mechanism 35 as shown in FIG. 2. It is not necessary for the operator to climb over open structures and ladders between crane and cab, complete safety is provided by the tube ladder structure. I

The tubular construction also provides a convenient method of bringing all electrical and hydraulic controls into the cab as such controls can be secured either to the inside or outside surface of the tube. The cab therefore can be wired and piped before it is installed in the crane and all connections between crane and cab can be made at conveniently placed junction boxes.

What I claim is: a

1. In an overhead crane including a main girder and a crane walk alongside the said main girderyan operators cab suspended from the said main girder the said cab comprising a vertically disposed tubular structural member secured adjacent its upper end to said main girder, the

said tubular member having an access opening at its upper end, a horizontally disposed operating platform secured to the outer surface of the'said tubular member adjacent its lower end, a vertically extending elongated access open- If required, a gate can be provided in the ing in the surface of the said tubular member and extending upward from the said operating platform, and rungs Within said tubular member'permitting operator movement through said tubular member between said crane walk and said operating platform.

2. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1 in which the tubular member is provided with a bolt ring by means of which the cab can be positioned about the axis of its tubular member with respect to the crane main girder to which the cab is secured.

3. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 2, in which the said bolt ring is secured to the outer surface of the said tubular member below the upper of said access openings.

4. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1 .in which the upper access opening is formed a by a cut-out in the surface of the tubular member extending upwards from the level of the said crane walk to the top edge of the member.

5. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the said access openings in the tubular member are offset circumferentially with respect to each other.

6. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the said tubular member has a step platform located slightly above the lower end of the said second access opening.

7. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth' in claim 1, in which the said tubular member is provided with a vertically disposed hand rung located on its inner surface opposite the said upper access opening.

8. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the said tubular member is provided with reinforcing brackets, and brace members connecting the said brackets with the crain main girder.

9. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the said operating platform projects outwardly from a substantial circumferential portion of the surface of the tubular member with the tubular member forming a portion of a back wall of the operators cab.

10. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the operating platform is surrounded by guard rails, the endsof which are secured to said tubular member.

11. An operators cab for cranes and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the operating platform is enclosed and a door is fitted in the platform enclosure adjacent the said tubular member.

12. An operators cab for cranes and the like comprising a vertically disposed tubular support member having an access opening at its upper end and a second access opening adjacent its lower end, a horizontally disposed operating platform secured to the outer surface of said tubular member below the said second access opening, and means to suspend said cab in a crane structure in a selected fixed position about the vertical axis of the said tubular support member relative to the crane structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 116,377 Ostrander Aug. 29, 1939 2,471,295 Wehr May 24, 1949 2,629,500 Dehn Feb. 24, 1953 2,646,892 Dehn July 28, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 818,251 Germany 2 Oct. 25, 1951 1,021,550 Germany Dec. 13, 1957 

1. IN AN OVERHEAD CRANE INCLUDING A MAIN GIRDER AND A CRANE WALK ALONGSIDE THE SAID MAIN GIRDER, AN OPERATOR''S CAB SUSPENDED FROM THE SAID MAIN GIRDER THE SAID CAB COMPRISING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED TUBULAR STRUCTURAL MEMBER SECURED ADJACENT ITS UPPER END TO SAID MAIN GIRDER, THE SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING AT ITS UPPER END, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED OPERATING PLATFORM SECURED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ADJACENT ITS LOWER END, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED ACESS OPENING IN THE SURFACE OF THE SAID TUBULR MEMBR AND EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE SAID OPERATING PLATFORM, AND RUNGS WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER PERMITTING OPERATOR MOVE- 